Food safety watchdog restores operating licence for XL Foods plant

OTTAWA - The southern Alberta meat-packing plant at the centre of a massive recall of tainted beef is back in business.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency says it has lifted its suspension of the operating licence for the XL Foods plant in Brooks, Alta.

The agency says the plant will be allowed to "progressively resume" slaughter and meat-processing operations.

It says those operations will proceed under enhanced surveillance by food-safety officials and increased testing protocols.

The agency says additional inspectors will stay at plant to monitor procedures and ensure strengthened food safety controls are being integrated into daily plant practices.